Siege of the Heart (Southern Romance Series, #2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

would have to. “Put me in chains, Knox. Kill me here. Just let her go home. She’s with child, for Heaven’s sake.”
    Robert looked around at the group of men, clustered, looking at him expectantly, and he sighed deeply.
    “This way, Perry.”
    Jasper hesitated. Was this it then? Was Knox going to take his bargain and kill him right here, right now? But Knox shook his head, and Jasper let out a breath. A quick death would be preferable, but even the moment of fear had been paralyzing.
    When they were away, Robert turned on him.
    “What?” Jasper asked.
    “Why do you not treat her like your wife? No kisses, no embraces.” Robert looked at him long and hard. “You stare into the distance more than you look at her.”
    He must not know the truth. Jasper fought the urge to speak reflexively, and chose his words. “Do you think I could bear to look at her?” he asked softly. “She knew what I was and she was good-hearted when I was at my lowest. I was unkind to her, you know, and when I realized I loved her.” He sighed. “I nearly left her still. Can you understand my love of her, even if she’s a Yankee?”
    “She’s a fine woman,” Robert said after a moment. “No sniveling. I like that in a woman. And carrying on well for being with child.” There was no doubt in his voice. “Yes, I can understand, Perry.”
    “And now this woman, who gave me everything when I was too sick and miserable to give her anything in return, will have nothing from me but a mouth to feed and no one to help her feed it. What’ll happen to her, Knox?”
    “You’re trying for pity now?” His face turned stone-like.
    “No,” Jasper assured him. “I know I have to stand trial for my crimes. I’m not asking you to let me go. But can you not understand that I can hardly bear to look at her? Please, let her go. Let her grieve me. Let her start over.”
    Robert heaved a sigh and looked back at the camp. “You know I can’t do that,” he said finally.
    “Knox, why ?” Jasper stood no chance. He had condemned an innocent woman to death.
    “Because I can’t trust any of the men with her,” Knox said brutally. “They’ve kept their hands off her because they’re afraid of me, but I can’t leave her with any of them.” He ran his hand over his forehead and spat again. “And I can’t leave you with them and go back with her, either. They’d tear you to pieces before you ever got to trial, Perry.”
    Robert was right. Jasper didn’t want to admit it, but he had seen the way the militia men glared at him. “Will you promise to bring her back yourself?”
    “You’re asking a lot for a traitor.”
    “I can’t not ask!”
    “Aye, I can see that. Well enough, Perry. I promise. But in return, you must give me something.”
    “You can have the homestead,” Jasper said promptly. “It’s yours.”
    “Not that.” Robert leaned back against the tree, and crossed his arms. “How about you tell me the truth.”
    Jasper must have frozen, for the man laughed.
    “I knew it.”
    “I told you the truth.”
    “There’s more there than you’re admitting, and the way she looks at you confirms it. You’re lying about something, Perry.”
    “Tell me this,” Jasper said angrily. His blood beat against his ears. “Is there any purpose to it? They’ll kill me, no matter what I say. They’ll make me stand up there and give some impassioned defense, but you know they won’t let me live.”
    Robert paced for so long that Jasper grew dizzy watching him. “I keep hoping,” he said finally, and Jasper swallowed, “that you’ll say something that’ll make me able to argue for your pardon. Can’t you understand that, Perry?”
    “No.”
    “If it was me sitting where you’re sitting, wouldn’t you wonder why? Wouldn’t you think there had to be a reason? Jasper, you betrayed us. Why ? For the last time, why?”
    Jasper swallowed. What could he say? He could not tell the truth of Solomon’s defection. If he did, he